Need advice on riding in the rain

[SavingMon(k)ey]

I searched the forums and didn't find much on this, pardon me if it has been discussed.

I am trying really hard to ride my bike to work more often. It's a 10 mile ride and I've worked out a really nice route. While I have always enjoyed running errands and going to work by bike, I have to admit I have mostly been a fair weather rider (except for winter, I don't mind a bit of cold and just layer up; have always done that except on really extremely cold days).  Recently I have learned to deal with pretty darn hot days at least some of the time, so I didn't make that excuse so often any more. I took a pile of washcloths and some deodorant to work, and put a fresh shirt in my pannier. Done. Happy.

Today, the forecast included a 60% chance of rain all day. Usually, that would have been a reason for me to drive. But I decided not to make that excuse. I packed a rain jacket, rain pants, wore sandals that can get wet, and put my stuff in my waterproof pannier. The way to work was dry. But, the way home was not. I thought about chickening out and taking the bus back but I didn't. It poured. And poured. Then it stopped and I almost dried off, then it poured again the last 2 miles. I stayed *somewhat* dry under my rain jacket and pants, but not really. Today, I actually thought it was kind of fun! But had it been 10 degrees colder, I would have been miserable. Today, I didn't care because I was on my way home where I could take a shower, but what if this was the way IN to work? Or my way out to run errands?

How do you guys do it? Do I need a better rain jacket/pants? IS there a way to stay dry(er)? I am a helmet wearer (my personal choice, though I respect other choices), so my head was soaked, too. Any advice on that? Like I said, today I didn't mind because it wasn't cold yet, I dried my short hair with a towel my partner lovingly handed to me when I stepped into the kitchen, dripping. I'm not worried about how my hair *looks*, just that I would feel very cold on a colder day.

[Russ]

I searched the forums and didn't find much on this, pardon me if it has been discussed.

I am trying really hard to ride my bike to work more often. It's a 10 mile ride and I've worked out a really nice route. While I have always enjoyed running errands and going to work by bike, I have to admit I have mostly been a fair weather rider (except for winter, I don't mind a bit of cold and just layer up; have always done that except on really extremely cold days).  Recently I have learned to deal with pretty darn hot days at least some of the time, so I didn't make that excuse so often any more. I took a pile of washcloths and some deodorant to work, and put a fresh shirt in my pannier. Done. Happy.

Today, the forecast included a 60% chance of rain all day. Usually, that would have been a reason for me to drive. But I decided not to make that excuse. I packed a rain jacket, rain pants, wore sandals that can get wet, and put my stuff in my waterproof pannier. The way to work was dry. But, the way home was not. I thought about chickening out and taking the bus back but I didn't. It poured. And poured. Then it stopped and I almost dried off, then it poured again the last 2 miles. I stayed *somewhat* dry under my rain jacket and pants, but not really. Today, I actually thought it was kind of fun! But had it been 10 degrees colder, I would have been miserable. Today, I didn't care because I was on my way home where I could take a shower, but what if this was the way IN to work? Or my way out to run errands?

How do you guys do it? Do I need a better rain jacket/pants? IS there a way to stay dry(er)? I am a helmet wearer (my personal choice, though I respect other choices), so my head was soaked, too. Any advice on that? Like I said, today I didn't mind because it wasn't cold yet, I dried my short hair with a towel my partner lovingly handed to me when I stepped into the kitchen, dripping. I'm not worried about how my hair *looks*, just that I would feel very cold on a colder day.

You will never stay dry. Knowing that, I ditch the rain gear entirely. You already have fresh clothes to wear at work, maybe on top of that bring a towel and another change of riding clothes for the way home. Or do as I do and keep a spare of everything at your desk. No different from being too sweaty in that respect.

In regards to cold, yes you'll be colder in wet clothes. Dress warmer then. Maybe add another layer, or try wool, or be a cheapass like me and stuff a plastic grocery bag down the front for extra insulation (really the best option even disregarding expense IMO). I haven't had any problems going right up to freezing though, and then you get snow which is much more pleasant. Not that I'm saying you have to harden up and deal, just that if I can do it I believe anyone else can as well.

[PindyStache]

+1 to everything Russ said. My commute is likewise ~10 miles. I love the rain and don't wear anything different most of the time. If you really bundle up so tightly against the rain you will just be that much sweatier (or at least I am). As long as you have a waterproof bag you should be good. Sometimes if it's colder and also wet I will use the same plastic bag trick on my feet too. I'm sure you'll figure out something that will work for you and congrats on your ride in the rain--just enjoy the wide open paths and exhilaration of rain in your face.

Also, be sure you have bright enough lights and turn them on if it's wet and cloudy. Even if it's the middle of the day visibility can be poor for drivers and others on the road/path.

This is a sort of similar thread:
https://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/ask-a-mustachian/bike-commuting-thunder-storms-am-i-a-wussypants/

[Jimbo]

My strategy is wearing stuff I don't mind getting wet, and as little as possible. I'm talking shorts, t-shirt and flip-flops. Then it's easy to change at work in work clothes. If it really rains hard, I bring another pair of boxer shorts. Done, I can get wet by as much rain as humanly possible.

(I put all of my work stuff in waterproof bike bags around my rear wheel).

Other usefule gear : light-coloured glasses to keep water out of eyes. If it's really cold (this happened last week) : light (not even) waterproof jacket from NikeRunning that I bought used, and pedalling harder to keep it toasty. Hot summer rain is not a problem though...

Really, realising that water is water is the best way to deal with it.

Temporary disconfort for the win.

[sol]

In a real downpour, you won't stay dry for 10 miles.  Even with fenders and a banana suit.  I sometimes wear the hood my rain jacket inside my helmet, which helps on shorter rides.

And I definitely second the recommendation for clear glasses.  I don't mind rain in the face, but rain in the eyes sucks.

My usual strategy for dealing with major storms, though, is to look at the animated weather radar map.  You can see the active storms coming and work around them.  I sometimes end up leaving work an hour early to avoid them, or staying later to wait out a bad one.

[GuitarStv]

I don't try to stay dry, just warm.  A waterproof coat tends to make me so sweaty over a long ride that I don't bother wearing them.  When it's cooler (wintry) and raining/melting snow, wool is the best material in the world . . . it will keep you warm even when soaking wet.  You can get a waterproof rain cover for your helmet (or make one from a plastic bag if you're really cheap) to keep stuff off of your head.

If you're using flat platform pedals, replace them with studded pedals!  They stick much better to your feet even when soaking wet, and are safer to use.

[Rollin]

I like the waterproof jacket and will occasionally bring the pants, but they are not as necessary.  The jacket keeps me fairly dry (I don't get soaked to the skin for sure) and warm.  I too put the hood on under or even over the helmet.  I find that heavy rain and saoked through gets uncomfortable so I'd rather have the jacket and can unzip to cool off as necessary.

For us though (in Florida), it rarely rains for a long time.

Get fenders too.  I rode through an area last week that had a storm pass through before I got there.  I got as wet from the spray off the tires as if I had been in the storm (I had just removed my fenders a few days prior).

[zhelud]

When I ride in the rain to work, I wear a raincoat and double-bag the clothes that I am bringing in to change into. Keeps them dry. Then when I arrive at work, I hang up my wet clothes and aim a small electric fan at them- they are usually dry pretty quickly. I then aim the fan at my wet sneakers, which always gets them dry by the time I go home.
But sometimes when it's raining I just choose not to ride. I find rain in the winter to be pretty miserable, so usually I will avoid it. Summer rain is usually fine unless it's a real storm.

[Jimbo]

I don't know what you guys are talking about regarding cold rain... Here we have snow. :-)

But seriously, during autumn, with pants and long sleeves, I have never been that cold from rain. Maybe use a couple more layers? A hoodie and/or a jacket, that should suffice until we get to the freezing point, but winter riding is a whole different animal.

+1 for fenders. They really help.

[SavingMon(k)ey]

Thanks for your advice and perspectives, everyone.

It has been incredibly rainy for Denver, and this morning I bit the bullet and rode to work in pouring rain. I still wore my rain jacket and pants and stayed about 1/3 dry. I did pull the hood under my helmet. The jacket, I realize now, is not waterproof anymore and needs to be replaced. Lots and lots of holes. No wonder my back is all wet. The pants, I can't find holes, but I think where there is a lot of friction (uhm, yeah, that area), the water ends up seeping through so I arrived at work looking like I peed  my pants. One coworker did a double-take and looked funny at me, then realized I biked to work and we laughed together. I did have a dry change of clothes including shoes in my pannier. ONE MORE EXCUSE BUSTED. I CAN RIDE TO WORK IN THE RAIN. I have to say though, there is a flash flood warning today, and the creek I ride alongside was crazy roaring. Depending on conditions, later, I may be putting my bike on the bus on the way back. 70% chance of rain all day.

Still a bit worried about what to do when it is wet AND cold, but I guess I can grow a little tougher each day.